Castle Point

Castle Point's population grew older in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 88,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Castle Point increased by 1.6%, from just over 86,600 to 88,000.

The addition of just over 1,400 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Castle Point was home to, on average, 14 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Castle Point

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Castle Point increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 15% of people in Castle Point are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Castle Point by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Castle Point

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Castle Point, but at a slower rate than across Eastof England.

In Castle Point, the proportion of single people increased from 24% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Castle Point fell from 58% to 53%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.3% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Castle Point residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.2%, while the percentage of Castle Point residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Castle Point increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Castle Point, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Castle Point

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 27% in 2001

The number of people in Castle Point that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 13,000 in 2001 to just under 24,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Castle Point that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 66,000 in 2001 to just over 56,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 6,600 to just under 6,300 (from 7.6% to 7.1%).

About 380 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 250 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in Castle Point increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Castle Point by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Castle Point

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 97% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 97% in 2001

The number of people in Castle Point from the White ethnic groups remained close to just over 85,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Castle Point from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 820 in 2001 to just over 1,000 in 2011 (from 0.9% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 510 to about 910 (from 0.6% to 1.0%).

Just over 660 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 170 in 2001 (0.8%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Castle Point decreased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Castle Point by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Castle Point at a faster rate than in Rochford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Castle Point).

In Castle Point, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.1% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Rochford increased from 4.9% to 8.5%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Castle Point fell from 5.6% to 5.4%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 88% to 83%.

Private renting in Castle Point increased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Castle Point, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Castle Point residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.2% to 5.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Castle Point residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Castle Point decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Castle Point, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

The percentage of households in Castle Point with children decreased from 29% to 27% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (60%) households had no children, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage of households in Castle Point with only adult children living with their parents increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of households with children fell faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Castle Point, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.7% to 9.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38%) households had a married couple, compared with 44% in 2001. The percentage of households in Castle Point, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 8.9%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Castle Point residents that were unemployed increased from 2.4% to 3.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage of Castle Point residents that were self-employed increased from 9.9% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Castle Point increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Castle Point, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Castle Point working less than 16 hours increased from 1.7% to 2.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Castle Point increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Castle Point, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Castle Point residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Castle Point remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Castle Point by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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